Free Republic

Syria’s embattled government inaugurated a park in Damascus to honour North Korea’s founding father Kim Il-Sung. The 9,000-square-metre park (about 2.2 acres) lies in the southwestern Damascus district of Kafr Sousa, atop the ruins of recently bulldozed homes. The opening ceremony, which came as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria group militants battled rebels in a district in southern Damascus, was attended by deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Moqdad. He called Kim, described by rights organisations as a brutal dictator, “a historic ruler and leader, famous for his struggle to liberate and build his country” . “For this reason, he deserves...

... In Berlin, Macron’s proposals were met with a combination of skepticism and fear, especially among Merkel’s conservative base. Though no country has benefited more than Germany from the currency union, many Germans remain convinced that much of the rest of Europe — particularly the Mediterranean states — is trying to pick its pockets. The Greek bailouts, which cost Germany little in the grander scheme of things, only hardened that impression. In fact, for much of the German establishment, Macron’s ideas are nothing less than an open invitation to raid Berlin’s treasury.

Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Marking the first-ever visit to Israel by a member of Great Britain’s royal family, Prince William will arrive in Tel Aviv on Monday, June 25, Kensington Palace announced in a statement released early on Friday. Besides Israel, the Duke of Cambridge will also visit Jordan and the Palestinian territories. “The visit is at the request of Her Majesty’s Government and has been welcomed by the Jordanian, Israeli, and Palestinian authorities,” the statement read. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip spent five days in Jordan in 1984, but have never visit Israel or the Palestinian territories....

Secretary Michael Pompeo met with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in Washington on Wednesday. The two discussed areas of mutual interest and opportunities for our countries to increase cooperation. The Secretary underscored the importance of maintaining a vibrant civil society. The Secretary also emphasized the urgent need to help Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, including the importance of facilitating and supporting Ukraine’s engagement with NATO, and the need to counter Russian malign influence in Central Europe. Both sides agreed that Europe should diversify its sources of energy and discussed increasing U.S. investment in Hungary. The Secretary and Foreign...

Recently, author and speechwriter Don Watson has questioned the impetus for Australia to become a republic. In the April edition of The Monthly, he wrote: In a world filling with tyrants, Queen Elizabeth and her descendants represent a sort of anti-tyranny. He goes on to note: Our democracy works imperfectly well, and it is hard to see how any of its practical imperfections would be remedied by going republican. In effect, the governor-general, who is appointed by the elected government, acts as a de facto ceremonial head of state, while we maintain the pretence that Elizabeth is the sovereign. Like...

1) Larry Elders 2) JC Watts 3) Alan Keyes 4) Thomas Sowell 5) Clarence Thomas 6) Ken Blackwell 7) Michael Steele 8) LaShawn Barber 9) Lynn Swann 10) Condaleeza Rice